Helical hair tie

ABSTRACT

The helical hair tie is a spiraling hair tie that is designed to hold a small braid of hair. The helical hair tie features a plurality of teeth along an interior surface that employs a frictional force to stabilize the helical hair tie onto hair. The helical hair tie is installed upon rotation of the hair tie along a small braid of hair. The helical hair tie is made of a highly flexible material that has a memory such that upon straightening and subsequent release, the helical hair tie restores the helical shape.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of hair ties and tying devices, more specifically, a ponytail securing mechanism.

B. Discussion of the Prior Art

As will be discussed immediately below, no prior art discloses a spiraling hair tie that includes a plurality of teeth along an interior surface, which employ a frictional force in order to secure said hair tie against a small braid of hair; wherein the length of the helical ranges depending upon the use and length of hair; wherein the helical hair tie is installed upon a small braid of hair by revolving the helical hair tie onto the small braid of hair; wherein the helical hair tie is made of a highly flexible material that has a memory such that upon straightening and subsequent release, the helical hair tie restores the helical shape.

The Hall et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,328,710) discloses a spiral or helical structure for retaining hair or hair-like strands is constructed from one or more rigid, semi-rigid, and/or flexible materials. Though, the helical structure is suited for use with small hair braids, the structure fails to teach or include a plurality of teeth along an interior that are useful in securing the device onto hair.

The McGee Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 2,924,228) discloses a coil shaped hair clasp. However, the clasp does not show a plurality of teeth located along an interior that are suited for securing the clasp onto a small braid of hair.

The Crabtree et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,755) discloses a device for holding hair in a bundle securely, and including a cylindrical coil shape. Again, the device is a cylindrical coil, but fails to teach the use of teeth to grab or secure itself onto a small braid of hair.

The Videtsky Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,421) discloses a hair retaining device that comprises two co-acting virtually identical circular helical coils. However, the helical coils do not include teeth along an interior that employ a frictional force to secure the coil onto a small braid of hair.

The Tu Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,109) discloses a barrette for releasably capturing strands of hair when in a closed operative condition. However, the barrette is not suited for use with a small braid of hair and of which employs teeth to secure itself thereon.

The Engel et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. Des. 372,338) illustrates an ornamental design for a spiraled ponytail holder, which fails to depict teeth along an interior surface.

The Zuckerman Patent (U.S. Pat. No. Des. 451,246) illustrates an ornamental design for a hair ornament, which fails to depict teeth along an interior.

While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe a spiraling hair tie that includes a plurality of teeth along an interior surface, which employ a frictional force in order to secure said hair tie against a small braid of hair; wherein the length of the helical ranges depending upon the use and length of hair; wherein the helical hair tie is installed upon a small braid of hair by revolving the helical hair tie onto the small braid of hair; wherein the helical hair tie is made of a highly flexible material that has a memory such that upon straightening and subsequent release, the helical hair tie restores the helical shape. In this regard, the helical hair tie departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The helical hair tie is a spiraling hair tie that is designed to hold a small braid of hair. The helical hair tie features a plurality of teeth along an interior surface that employs a frictional force to stabilize the helical hair tie onto hair. The helical hair tie is installed upon rotation of the hair tie along a small braid of hair. The helical hair tie is made of a highly flexible material that has a memory such that upon straightening and subsequent release, the helical hair tie restores the helical shape.

An object of the invention is to provide a hair tie suited for use with a small braid of hair including at least 200 hundred hairs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a helical hair tie that features a means of securing itself upon a small braid of hair such that the invention does not simply slide off upon installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of teeth or raised ridges that are aligned along an interior surface and of which employ a frictional force to secure the helical hair tie onto the small hair braid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a helical hair tie that is made of a highly flexible material having a memory in shape such that the helical shape is restored after releasing from a straightened state.

A further object of the invention is to provide a helical hair tie of an undefined length, which can be cut to a desired length accordingly consistent with the actual length of the hair being secured.

These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the helical hair tie will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the helical hair tie when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the helical hair tie in detail, it is to be understood that the helical hair tie is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the helical hair tie.

It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the helical hair tie. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a series of helical hair ties of varying lengths;

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up detailed view of the helical hair ties along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, which further details the raised grips located along an interior of the helical hair ties; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of a helical hair tie installed upon a small ponytail and with a detail illustrating how the teeth engage upon hair at a bias to secure the helical hair tie onto a small ponytail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

Detailed reference will now be made to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. A helical hair tie 100 (hereinafter invention) includes a continuously spiraling coil 101 (hereinafter coil) of an undefined length. The diameter of the coil 101 is not less than 1/16 inch to not more than 3 inches. The coil 101 is further defined by an interior surface 102. The interior surface 102 is lined with a plurality of teeth 103, which are essentially raised ridges of equal width.

The teeth 103 have an overall height 103A ranging from 1/64 inch to 1/16 inch. The teeth 103 are made of a material having a high coefficient of friction such that when the invention 100 is installed upon a small braid of hair 130, the teeth 103 stick to the surface of the hair 130 via a frictional force. The teeth 103 may be made of a material comprising a rubber or a plastic.

The coil 101 is made of a highly flexible material that has a memory such that when straightened out to a straight state, and subsequent release, the coil 101 will return to the memorized shape, which is a spiraling coil. The coil 101 may be made of a material comprising a shape memory alloy or a shape memory polymer.

Shape memory alloys are materials that remember an original cold-forced shape, and are highly elastic.

Shape memory polymers are polymeric smart materials that can return from a deformed state to their original shape. These polymers have a set or permanent shape that can be deformed to a temporary state, and upon release return to the permanent shape.

It shall be noted that the term “small braid of hair” 130 is being used to describe a small or skinny ponytail that includes at least 50 hairs to not more than 400 hairs to form a “mini” ponytail. It shall be further noted that the word “braid” may be referring to a weaving of hair, as well as a collection or assemblage of hair.

The invention 100 is installed upon the small braid of hair 130 by either twisting the invention 100 upwardly with respect to the hair 130. The invention 100 may alternatively be installed upon straightening out a portion of length of the invention 100, and thereafter wrapping the coil 102 around the hair 130.

Referring to FIG. 3, a detail is provided which shows the angle formed between the teeth 103 and the direction of the hair 130. The fact that the teeth 103 engage upon the hair 130 at a bias is an additional means of securing the invention 100 onto the hair 130. Without this bias and the material forming the teeth 103, the invention 100 may be more likely than not to fall off the braid of hair 130.

It shall be noted that the invention 100 is a suitable alternative to the use of braiding or use of rubber bands that secure a bottom of a braid.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention 100, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention 100.

It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A helical hair tie comprising: a continuously spiraling coil of an undefined length; wherein the coil has an interior surface that is lined with a plurality of teeth; wherein a small braid of hair is wrapped within said helical hair tie and secured therein; wherein the teeth are further defined as raised ridges of equal width; wherein the teeth are made of a material having a high coefficient of friction such that when the helical hair tie is installed upon a small braid of hair, the teeth adhere against and onto the surface of the hair via a frictional force; wherein the coil is made of a highly flexible material comprising a shape memory alloy or a shape memory polymer; wherein the teeth engage the braid of hair at a bias.
 2. The helical hair tie as described in claim 1 wherein the diameter of the coil is not less than 1/16 inch to not more than 3 inches.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The helical hair tie as described in claim 1 wherein the teeth have an overall height ranging from 1/64 to 1/16 inch.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The helical hair tie as described in claim 1 wherein the teeth may be made of a material comprising a rubber or a plastic.
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. A helical hair tie comprising: a continuously spiraling coil of an undefined length; wherein the coil has an interior surface that is lined with a plurality of teeth; wherein a small braid of hair is wrapped within said helical hair tie and secured therein; wherein the teeth are further defined as raised ridges of equal width; wherein the teeth engage the braid of hair at a bias; wherein the teeth are made of a material having a high coefficient of friction such that when the helical hair tie is installed upon a small braid of hair, the teeth adhere against and onto the surface of the hair via a frictional force; wherein the diameter of the coil is not less than 1/16 inch to not more than 3 inches; wherein the teeth have an overall height ranging from 1/64 to 1/16 inch; wherein the teeth may be made of a material comprising a rubber or a plastic; wherein the coil is made of a highly flexible material comprising a shape memory alloy or a shape memory polymer.
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled) 